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Literary Gems: Poetic Phrases and Classical Allusions

Explore the beauty and depth of Thai literary expressions, adding elegance to your speech and writing.

Vocabulary preview

  • ฟ้ามีตา fáa mee dtaa — As if the sky has eyes; divine justice
  • เทียนส่องทาง tian sɔ̀ng taang — To be like a candle burning itself out; sacrificing oneself for others
  • วาจาหวานปานน้ำผึ้ง waa-jaa wǎan bpaan nám pêung — Words like honey, meaning like poison; deceptive flattery
  • งมเข็มในมหาสมุทร ngom kěm nai má-hǎa-sà-mùt — To seek a needle in a haystack; an impossible task
  • แสงสว่างนำทาง sɛ̌ng sà-wàang nam taang — To be a light in the darkness; a source of hope/guidance
  • วาดภาพบนผิวน้ำ wâat pâap bon pǐu nám — To draw a picture on water; a futile effort
Elephant Foot, Ant's Nest: Figurative Language · Figurative Speech: Painting with Words · Literary Gems: Unpacking Thai Poetic Devices · The Art of Saying Without Saying: Figurative Language in Thai